This summer, people with intellectual/developmental disabilities supported at S:US’ 5^th Avenue Day Habilitation Program went swimming at the New York City public pool in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. It was a warm, sunny day and a great way to cool off! Yvette McBean, the Program Director of 5^th Avenue Day Habilitation Program, enjoys taking participants to this pool every year to practice their swimming skills and take advantage of the many free opportunities New York City offers the community in the summer. She shared that one participant “…was very excited about swimming in this pool because years ago, he competed in the Special Olympics. It was his first swim in an outdoor pool in a long time.  This is his first year attending S:US’ day habilitation program and he was so happy to go into the deep end since he is a strong swimmer.”

Among those enjoying the swim was Christopher, a participant in the 5th Avenue Day Habilitation Program, who said: “It was cool, refreshing, felt good and fun. I want to go again!”

Wandalys, another participant, expressed , “It was so good to swim with friends. It was fun and refreshing.” 

Jaime, who also cherished the day, shared “I splashed around and stayed in the shallow end.  I taught myself how to swim when I was younger because we had a pool in our backyard.  I had a wonderful time and I hope to go again.”

Theosha Cutler, a Direct Support Professional (DSP) who works with Jaime, stated “It was a great experience. The folks we support really enjoyed it and it was my first time swimming with them along with their first time at this pool. I swim on my own but seeing the expressions on their faces –  their smiles and joy, how they lit up – it was amazing! I was grateful that I could be a part of the activity, see them swim and witness their joy. It was new for all of us.”

We are grateful to the DSPs and staff for supporting our Day Habilitation Program participants in their adventure of a swimming session!

• Learn more about S:US’ Developmental Disabilities Services.

We have many people on staff and people we serve who are Hispanic/Latino. Do you get these two terms confused? Simply put, Hispanic refers to language (people who speak Spanish or are descended from Spanish-speaking populations) and Latino refers to geography (people from or descended from people from Latin America). Learn more.

Why does this month-long celebration start in mid-September? September 15 coincides with the Independence Day celebrations of five countries (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua), followed by Mexico on the 16th, Chile on the 18th, and Belize on the 21st. Día de la Raza, or Indigenous Peoples Day, is celebrated in Mexico and other countries on October 12. In total, Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates communities with roots in 20 Latin American countries and territories. American Latinos make up more than 19% of the United States population (1 in every 4 children is Hispanic/Latino).

Check out these events honoring Hispanic Heritage Month:

• Finance workshops, storytime, craft-making, and other events at the New York Public Library (all month long) 
• Hispanic Heritage Month events with NYC Parks (all month long)
• New York Latino Film Festival (September 12-18)
• Mexican Independence Day Parade in Manhattan (September 21)
• Hispanic Day Parade in Queens (September 27)
• Programming and exhibitions at the Hispanic Society Museum & Library (ongoing)

We stand with our staff, friends, neighbors, the people we serve, and all Hispanic Americans. We will continue to work towards racial equity and social justice.

For Bobby, that feeling didn’t come easily. 

Born in the Bronx and raised in Manhattan, Bobby built an extraordinary career as “Flip Rock,” a member of the famous New York City Breakers. His talent took him around the world as a performer, and he remains proud of the legacy he helped create. Yet despite that success, he spent years moving from place to place, renting rooms and trying to make do without a stable home of his own. During that time, he often felt taken advantage of and struggled to find a place where he felt safe, secure, and able to build a future. 

Despite the challenges, Bobby never gave up. 

“I’ve always kept cool, you know. It was hard, but I always, always, always put that one foot ahead.”  

Eventually, with encouragement from someone he trusted, Bobby entered the shelter system. That decision changed the course of his life. After spending time in shelter, Bobby was connected to Rockaway, a supportive housing community in Brooklyn, through Services for the UnderServed (S:US), where he has now lived for nearly nine years. 

When Bobby first moved into his apartment, he expected housing. What he didn’t expect was the support system, including counselors, vocational services, and other assistance, that came with it. 

Over the years, S:US staff have helped Bobby navigate challenges, maintain housing stability, and access resources when he needed them. He speaks warmly about the counselors who have supported him throughout his time at Rockaway. 

“I’m so happy to have [my vocational specialist] Saisha. She’s always been on my side since I moved into this building. If I have a problem, [S:US] helps me out, and that’s something very special to me.”  

Their support has given Bobby the feeling that he no longer has to face challenges alone, something he says he didn’t have for much of his life. 

“I’m just happy I’m not alone. That’s how I feel because I’ve always been alone. I really appreciate that. S:US makes me feel more safe and secure.”  

Supportive housing created a sense of security and peace of mind. Beyond his apartment walls, Bobby has found community. He describes neighbors who look out for one another and a building where people are willing to help when someone is in need. 

“Everyone likes to be in this building. The neighbors are great.” 

Today, Bobby enjoys the stability he worked so hard to achieve. He remains connected to family, enjoys spending time in Manhattan, and takes pride in maintaining his home. 

Looking back on his own experience with homelessness, Bobby knows the path forward begins with a single step: 

“You got to start somewhere, go to a shelter and take it from there.”  

Bobby now has what he spent years searching for: a place of his own, people he can count on, and the peace of mind that comes with knowing he is no longer facing life’s challenges alone. With stable housing, access to counseling, and a supportive community, he can focus on maintaining his independence and enjoying the life he worked hard to rebuild. 

Nearly nine years after moving into his apartment, Bobby still feels a sense of gratitude each time he walks through the door.  

“I feel so blessed. I’m safe and I’m so happy. Each time I open this door, I’m like, hey, this [apartment] is mine.” 

• Learn more about S:US’ Housing Services.

During Direct Support Professional Recognition Week (September 13-19), Services for the UnderServed (S:US) proudly celebrates the dedicated, compassionate, and innovative professionals who support people with I/DD in living the lives they choose. Their work often happens behind the scenes, but its impact is felt everywhere: in moments of newfound independence, meaningful community connections, personal achievements, and goals reached.

DSPs are much more than caregivers. They are advocates, teachers, problem-solvers, mentors, and trusted partners. Whether they’re helping someone navigate a new opportunity, build daily living skills, pursue employment, strengthen relationships, or participate more fully in their community, DSPs empower people to thrive.

At S:US, our direct support professionals are the heart and soul of our Developmental Disabilities Services. Their creativity, dedication, and unwavering belief in the people they support help create pathways to greater independence, inclusion, and self-determination.

For many of the people we support, home is more than a place to live. It is the foundation for stability, belonging, personal growth, and meaningful participation in community life. DSPs help make that foundation stronger, supporting people in creating lives that are healthy, connected, and filled with possibility.

This week, and every week, we recognize the extraordinary contributions of DSPs whose commitment transforms lives. Their work strengthens families, builds more inclusive communities, and advances our work of helping New Yorkers build better lives, starting with home.

• Learn more about Services for the UnderServed (S:US).
• Learn more about S:US’ Developmental Disabilities Services.

Each September, Hunger Action Month unites millions to raise awareness and provide nutritious food to neighbors facing hunger. Together, we all make a difference.

Food insecurity has been skyrocketing over the past few years. According to the True Cost of Living Report, 50% of working-age households in New York City are struggling to make ends meet. Since 2000, the costs of basic needs have increased by 131%, while median earnings have increased by only 71%. 1.4 million New Yorkers are experiencing food insecurity. Visits to New York City soup kitchens and food pantries are currently at record high levels. And food scarcity increases anxiety and depression.

S:US offers holistic programs to support New Yorkers in need and explicitly addresses hunger through a range of programs and initiatives, including our Urban Farms and Community Fridges. 

Last year, Urban Farms grew an estimated 12,200 pounds of vegetables, fruits, herbs, and honey from our farm and garden network. This is equivalent to 8,500 meals with a market value of approximately $51,000, all planted and cultivated by the people we serve. We have 98 growing spaces in Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and the Bronx, including eight community farms.

In 2022, we launched our Community Fridge Program. Our community fridges offer free food and non-perishable items to neighbors in need at five locations in Brooklyn and the Bronx. S:US’ Community Fridges are operated by adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities who attend our day programs or live in our residential programs. 

And in 2023, we developed a Food Security White Paper on the complexities of food insecurity, highlighting innovations and best practices in food justice, and calling for collective action to eradicate food insecurity in our communities. 

We’re proud to help vulnerable New Yorkers build stable lives.

We’re also excited to share that our Community Food Security team is hosting a Food Drive and will accept donations until Wednesday, September 30th! 

They are accepting donations of non-perishable food items, including jars, cans, and sealed packets.

Suggested items include:

1. Canned Protein (tuna, chicken, salmon, or beans)
2. Canned Vegetables (low-sodium options preferred)
3. Canned or Boxed Soups (hearty soups with protein and vegetables)
4. Peanut Butter (protein-rich and shelf-stable)
5. Canned or Boxed Pasta (spaghetti, macaroni, or ravioli)
6. Rice & Pasta (whole grain options are ideal)
7. Canned or Boxed Fruits (preferably in 100% juice or light syrup)
8. Boxed Cereal (low-sugar, whole grain options)
9. Shelf-Stable Milk (such as powdered milk, evaporated milk, or plant-based milk)
10. Granola Bars or Snack Bars (healthy, easy-to-carry options)

Donations can also be made at any of our community fridge locations between 8AM and 8PM any day of the week:

• 1015 Fox Street (Bronx)
• 1600 Macombs Road (Bronx)
• 1109 Bushwick Avenue (Brooklyn)
• 421 Chester Street (Brooklyn)
• 457 Saint Marks Avenue (Brooklyn)

Alternatively, food drive items can be purchased through our Food Drive page on Amazon (with some suggested items listed above).

For larger or bulk donations, please email Mike Hollis at mhollis@sus.org. (Donations after September will continue to be welcomed).

We can all help prevent suicide.

Suicidal thoughts can affect anyone regardless of age, gender, or background. In 2023, suicide was the eleventh leading cause of death overall in the United States, claiming the lives of more than 49,300 people.

Every year, mental health advocates, public health organizations, survivors, allies, and community members raise awareness of suicide prevention during September, National Suicide Prevention Month. September 10 is World Suicide Prevention Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness and providing worldwide action to prevent suicides.

The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, including prevention and crisis resources for you, your loved ones, and the people you support, plus best practices for professionals.

Additional Resources

• Call or chat the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for free 24/7 confidential support.
• #BeThe1To is the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline’s campaign to spread the word about actions we can all take to prevent suicide. These actions can promote healing, help and give hope.
• NYC 988 is your connection to free, confidential mental health support. Dial 988 to speak to a counselor via phone, text, or chat and get access to mental health and substance use services, in more than 200 languages, 24/7/365.
• Call the NAMI-NYC Helpline at 212-684-3264 or email helpline@naminyc.org. Services are available in English and Spanish, Monday-Friday 10am to 6pm. NAMI also offers support groups and classes.
• Call or chat the Veterans Crisis Line.
• Additional information and resources can be found at the SAMHSA Preventing Suicide page.

Anyone can be struggling with suicide. Everyone plays a role in suicide prevention.

• Learn more about S:US’ Wellness Works Clinics.
• Learn more about S:US’ Treatment and Recovery Services.

“Federal leaders are shifting funding toward shelters and outdated programs that make housing conditional on sobriety. For people trying to rebuild their lives, it can mean the difference between having the stability to recover and falling back into crisis.”

I am 10 years clean from substance use this summer. People hear that milestone and ask me how I did it. They expect me to talk about determination, faith, or making better choices. While recovery demanded every one of them, it also hinged on being given the stability and support I needed to change.

The program that saved my life happened to be temporary housing with supportive services, because that’s what I needed at that moment. Others need permanent supportive housing—affordable housing with access to supportive services. What matters is that people can access the kind of housing and services that match where they are in their recovery.

Today, that flexibility is increasingly under threat, putting thousands of New Yorkers at risk. When programs that combine stable housing with supportive services lose funding, people don’t simply lose an apartment. They risk losing access to counseling, treatment, and the support systems that keep them healthy and housed—putting them at risk of returning to shelters, hospitals, or the streets.

Instead of continuing to prioritize programs that focus on quickly getting vulnerable neighbors into safe temporary and permanent housing paired with supportive services (commonly known as “Housing First”), federal leaders are shifting funding toward shelters and outdated programs that make housing conditional on sobriety. For people trying to rebuild their lives, it can mean the difference between having the stability to recover and falling back into crisis. Studies show that Housing First programs decreased homelessness by 88 percent and improved housing stability by 41 percent.

But I don’t need data to prove whether these kinds of programs work. I’m alive because they did.

I grew up in Brooklyn during the crack epidemic. Addiction was everywhere. Like a lot of young people, I spent years looking for somewhere I felt like I belonged. I found that belonging in all the wrong places. By the time I was an adult, addiction had completely taken over my life. I cycled through treatment programs, spent time incarcerated, and wandered the streets.

I had tried to get clean before—and I knew I couldn’t do it alone. Someone told me about Services for the UnderServed. When I entered one of their facilities, the staff didn’t promise they could fix my life. They gave me a roadmap. They told me they would walk beside me, giving me the tools I needed to build skills to live independently, but I had to do the work myself.

Too many people hear about supportive housing and assume they’re simply an empty apartment or a handout. Neither is true.

Supportive housing gave me far more than a place to sleep. For the first time in years, I had a routine. I could wake up knowing where I’d sleep that night. I could show up for counseling. I could start thinking about tomorrow instead of just surviving today.

I was able to find stability after years of chaos. I was connected with addiction treatment, counseling, and people who understood recovery because they had lived it themselves. It gave me the space to focus on healing instead of survival. I could finally start rebuilding my life.

A decade later, I now work at the facility where I was first treated. Every day I see people taking those first difficult steps because someone gave them the same chance I received. Many arrive carrying years of addiction, trauma, and shame. Some have convinced themselves they’ll never change because the world has told them that for years.

When you’ve lived on both sides of community-based care programs—as someone who needed it and someone who now works inside it—you learn what actually changes lives.

That’s why it worries me when policymakers debate different housing models as if one approach works for everyone. Some people need transitional housing. Others need permanent supportive housing. What people need most is access to the program that gives them the best chance to recover.

I understand the desire to help people become self-sufficient. More than anything, I wanted that for myself. But self-sufficiency or “pulling yourself up by the boot-straps” isn’t something that just happens overnight. It grows from stability. Before I could hold down a job, I needed a safe place to sleep. Before I could contribute to my community, I needed treatment, counseling, and people who believed I could succeed. That investment gave me the foundation to become truly independent.

We spend plenty of time talking about the costs of homelessness—the emergency rooms, shelters, jails, and encampments. We spend far less time talking about what communities gain when people have the housing and support they need to recover and thrive.

These programs give people the opportunity to become parents who are present for their children, neighbors who contribute to their communities, and, sometimes, staff members who return to help the next person walking through the door.

Today, I’m one of those people. I show up for my daughters’ school events. I’m the person my kids call when they need advice or support. And every day, I go to work at the same organization that helped save my life, helping others believe recovery is possible.

I know my story isn’t unique because I see it beginning again every day. I work alongside people who are taking the same first difficult steps I once did, and I know what can happen when they’re given the same chance I received.

Especially as the federal government funding becomes less stable, local policy matters more than ever. That’s why I’m encouraged by New York City’s “Block by Block” housing plan, which recognizes that solving homelessness requires not only building more housing of all types, but also creating more supportive housing and connecting people with the services they need to stay housed.

It’s an important step in the right direction. At a time when federal leaders are pulling back from longstanding investments in supportive housing and reshaping homelessness policy, New York cannot afford to retreat.

Ten years ago, supportive housing programs invested in me before I believed I was worth investing in. We can’t afford to stop believing in it now.

Lavon Turner is a former client and current employee at Services for the UnderServed (S:US).

Read the original article here.

For years, John had something many people quietly take for granted: financial breathing room.

At 47, he was working full time and doing well. He could pay his bills. He could help his mother. He had enough of a cushion to handle life’s unexpected expenses without immediately panicking. After years of financial stability, he had built enough savings to pursue new opportunities and support himself.

He was comfortable. He was secure. He was, by his own description, largely stress-free. Then, suddenly, he wasn’t.

A series of events dramatically changed John’s financial life.

A combination of economic uncertainty and market turndowns quicky eroded the financial security he had worked so hard to build. Bills became difficult to pay. His finances became a constant source of stress. And then, he was unable to pay his roommate for an entire year.

Not being able to pay bills was extremely stressful. But not having money for food was something he had never experienced before. John did not apply for SNAP or EBT benefits, and he was too embarrassed to go to a food pantry.

“I didn’t feel like I belonged there,” John said. “I didn’t want to take food from someone who needed it more than me.”

That is the part of food insecurity we do not always see. And what John couldn’t see was that he needed help as much as the next person.

We often think of food insecurity as something that only affects people experiencing long-term poverty. But we do not always see the person who was financially stable last year. The person helping support a parent. The person paying bills without thinking twice. The person who had a financial cushion until an unexpected setback changed everything.

For John, the S:US Urban Farms® community fridge near his apartment became a lifeline.

He had often walked by the fridge and had seen people getting things, but this time, he stopped when he saw a woman putting huge bags of food in it. She smiled and invited him to check it out.

“The [community] fridge was there for me when I needed it. I don’t know what else I could have done to survive until I got back on my feet. To be honest, it was the community fridge that really saved me this past year.”

He discovered a resource that allowed him to access food without paperwork, without judgment, and without having to prove that he was poor enough to deserve help.

Located in neighborhoods across Brooklyn and the Bronx, Services for the UnderServed (S:US) operates four community fridges that help address food insecurity by providing free access to fresh produce and essential items. Rooted in the belief that healthy food is a basic need, the program ensures New Yorkers can access nutritious food with dignity and without stigma.

Today, John is working again and rebuilding the stability he lost. He is catching up on bills, contributing toward rent, and steadily moving toward the goals he once feared were out of reach. But for now, he still uses the fridge as he finds his footing.

And that is precisely why the S:US community fridges matter.

John’s experience reveals an important truth: food insecurity is not always visible, and it does not always affect the people we expect.

Sometimes, food insecurity is the person who was comfortable yesterday.

Sometimes it is the person who works full time.

Sometimes it is the person who helps support a parent.

Sometimes it is the person who simply experienced one devastating year.

Community fridges give New Yorkers something incredibly important: a bridge. A bridge between losing stability and finding it again.

For John, that bridge meant food was available during the hardest year of his life. It meant he could keep going while he searched for work and tried to rebuild the financial security he had lost.

“I’m grateful the fridge was there,” John said.

S:US Urban Farms® community fridges serve New Yorkers from all walks of life. They support people experiencing chronic food insecurity and those facing unexpected hardship. They help older adults on fixed incomes, working families struggling with rising costs, and people who never imagined they would need assistance.

They serve people who may never qualify for benefits such as SNAP.

They serve people who hesitate to seek help because of stigma or embarrassment.

They serve people like John.

Because sometimes the difference between a temporary setback and a deeper crisis is knowing access to food will be there when it’s needed most.

“I have my goals, and a financial strategy. I lost it all, but I will make it all back again, working harder and smarter this time. But I won’t forget the lessons I learned from this experience, and I’m going to have a story to tell to help others who are struggling to know they’re going to be ok. I don’t know who the employees or volunteers are who take care of the community fridges, but I hope they know just how grateful so many of us New Yorkers are. Thank you.”

Margaret-Ann Cole is Chief HR & People Officer, Services for the UnderServed.

Picture one of our residential programs at 2 a.m. A staff member has just helped a resident through a difficult night. Before the employee can get home and rest, she has a question about her available vacation days. As an overnight worker, she does not have the same easy access to HR that someone working a typical 9-to-5 schedule would have. Her choices are to wait until morning, ask a coworker who may not know the answer or put the question aside. For someone doing demanding, people-centered work outside the usual office day, none of those options feels especially helpful.

When Timothy “Tim” Evans walks into work each day as a Harm Reduction Specialist at Services for the UnderServed (S:US), he brings lived experience to his consultations. 

The people he supports see someone who understands substance use recovery, homelessness, and trauma. Today, Tim uses those experiences to help others rebuild their own lives, but reaching this point required years of healing and a community that believed in him when he was still learning to believe in himself. 

Growing up in Brooklyn, Tim’s life was shaped by instability from an early age. Foster care, homelessness, and substance use, left lasting mental health trauma that followed him into adulthood. 

Despite everything he experienced, Tim never lost hope that life could look different. That hope became reality in 2021 when he made the decision to seek help after years of active substance use. 

“That last day that I was using [substances], something in me that told me, ‘oh, this can’t be it.’ I was sleeping under a bench… [when I woke up] I went to my mother’s house and when she opened the door, I said, ‘Mom, I’m ready [to start my recovery].’ And she looked at me. She was like, ‘I can see it in your face.'” 

Substance use treatment marked the beginning of his recovery. As he worked to rebuild his life, he was also recovering from serious workplace injuries that left him unable to work and managing ongoing physical and mental health challenges.  

After entering recovery, Tim faced another critical challenge: finding stable housing and support to build a new life. Through a referral, Tim moved into Genesis Plaza, an S:US supportive housing residence in Brooklyn. It became a place where he felt accepted and encouraged to imagine a different future. 

“The people that work here in the building welcomed me as if I was family.  They saw more in me, which  gave me inspiration to do more.” 

In addition to having a safe roof under his head, Tim received supportive services including mental health services, wellness coaching, counseling, and connections to education and employment resources. Staff helped him schedule and attend medical and mental health appointments, stay on track with his recovery treatment, and furnish his apartment so it felt like a home. As he began planning for the future, they supported him through job applications, connected him with employment opportunities, and encouraged him to take on leadership roles within the Genesis community. He organized men’s health workshops on topics such as colon cancer screenings and hosted informational tables featuring resources from the Real Dads Network, helping fellow residents access family support while developing his own skills as an advocate and community leader. With a strong support system behind him, Tim was able to focus on his recovery. 

As his confidence grew, so did his desire to give back. Ashley King, Genesis Program Director, recognized Tim’s potential long before he saw it himself and encouraged him to pursue peer specialist training, which prepares people with lived experience of mental health, substance use, or other life challenges to support others on their recovery journeys. 

“Ashley has been a huge impact on my life. She has been there every step of the way. She’s been like a friend. And now she’s a coworker.” 

The training program guided Tim to process and heal the trauma he had spent years carrying. Living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anxiety made being around large groups difficult, but the support of his classmates and instructors helped him discover that his experiences could become a source of strength and guidance for others. 

“Talking about it with my peers, it really helped me get through it. The career coaches also helped cultivate my skills as a peer specialist.” 

For the first time, Tim saw that the hardships he had endured could help someone else heal. 

Today, that perspective shapes every interaction he has with the people he serves at S:US’ Alafia, an affordable and supportive housing community in East New York. Rather than seeing himself as someone with all the answers, he meets people where they are because he understands what it feels like to be in their position. 

“Being a peer specialist is what helped me navigate a lot of trauma that I was dealing with. My lived experience helps me connect with the tenants more because I’m allowed to express myself and be my authentic self. I’m not above them. I’m just there to help guide.” 

Working for S:US had long been one of Tim’s goals. Becoming part of the organization that helped him rebuild his own life gave him the next step toward stability. 

What began as a desire to help others at S:US eventually grew into a broader mission. Drawing from his own experiences growing up without a stable family structure, Tim founded B.R.I.D.G.E.—Building Resilience, Integrity, Development, Growth and Empowerment—to mentor young people and strengthen families affected by trauma and the child welfare system. 

“Being in foster care myself, I don’t want to see young men go through what I went through. I didn’t have a family structure when I grew up. And now that I have put myself in a position where I do have a family structure, I’m very proud of myself. I’m able to raise my children with my wife.”

Among his many achievements, Tim authored a memoir “Stop Asking Why, Start Asking How to Rebuild Your Life.” He also contracts with New York City’s Administration for Children’s Services (ACS), works with Real Dads Network, writes nationally about child welfare through Youth Voices Rising by The Imprint, and was honored with the 2026 Casey Excellence for Children Award (CECA) for his community leadership. Yet his vision continues to grow. 

“What I hope to see in my future moving forward is prosperity. I want to expand my business. Hopefully, I can get funding to have a facility of my own one day.” 

Looking back, Tim sees the support he received from S:US as the foundation that allowed everything else to follow. Housing gave him stability. Wellness services supported his recovery. Education opened new opportunities. Employment allowed him to give back to the very community that once supported him. Most importantly, he found a place where he belonged, “By treating me like family, S:US made me feel like I belong.” For people rebuilding their lives, that sense of stability, opportunity, and connection can be transformative. Through the support of donors, community partners, and advocates, S:US helps people access the housing, services, and encouragement they need to move beyond crisis and build brighter futures. 

Today, Tim’s impact extends far beyond himself. Every person he supports at S:US, every person he mentors through B.R.I.D.G.E., and every father he encourages carries forward the investment others once made in him. 

As Tim reflects on his journey, he hopes supporters recognize the ripple effect that can begin when someone is given the chance to heal, grow, and thrive. “[Services for the UnderServed]’s work is helping people. I mean, look at me. I’m a living example of that.” 

Watch Tim share his story

• Learn more about S:US’ Behavioral Health Services.